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sandrewn

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  1. Just the facts: LILT Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster LILT Synonyms: 39 Similar Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus When Irish Eyes Are Smiling - YouTube (0:53)
  2. December 22nd 2025 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Dongzhi Festival Armed Forces Day (Vietnam) Christian feast day: Anastasia of Sirmium (Orthodox Church) Eimhin Ernan, Son of Eogan Frances Xavier Cabrini (outside US) Hunger O Rex Henry Budd (Episcopal Church (USA)) Lottie Moon (Episcopal Church (USA)) December 22 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Mother's Day (Indonesia) National Mathematics Day (India) Teachers' Day (Cuba) Unity Day (Zimbabwe) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Forefathers’ Day National Ashton Day National Cookie Exchange Day National Short Person Day Alexandria Everett’s Birthday Bershan Shaw’s Birthday Big Tigger’s Birthday Bryce Gheisar’s Birthday Chris Hughes’s Birthday DaBaby’s Birthday Denzel Dion’s Birthday G Hannelius’s Birthday Guru Gobind Singh’s Birthday Hennessy Carolina’s Birthday Hobo Johnson’s Birthday Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Birthday Jordin Sparks’s Birthday Latto’s Birthday Luther Campbell’s Birthday Madison Kennedy’s Birthday Meghan Trainor’s Birthday Mike Chen’s Birthday Moonbyul’s Birthday Natalie Guercio’s Birthday Nate Garner’s Birthday Srinivasa Ramanujan’s Birthday Tanner Fox’s Birthday Fun Observances Date Nut Bread Day On December 22 add date nut bread to your holiday baking list because it is Date Nut Bread Day. Made with different kinds of nuts like walnuts and pecans and dates that give it its distinct sweet flavor, date nut bread is thought to have been first baked in England. Ancient Fruit Grown in many parts of the world, dates are the fruit of the date palm. Food historians believe that the date palm was first cultivated for its fruit in the Middle East around 6000 BC. Farmers classify dates based on their texture and the sugar content into 3 types. These are soft, dry and semi-dry dates. Date Nut Bread Day is an unofficial holiday which is also known as National Date Nut Bread Day. How to Celebrate? Bake date nut bread and share with family, friends and coworkers. Remind them that it is a healthy treat. What about making little muffins instead of making a loaf of the bread? Experiment with the flavors of your date nut bread. What about adding strawberries to it? Or chocolate chips? Make a banana date nut bread or an orange date nut bread instead. Serve toasted slices of the bread with a pat of butter. Did You Know… …that contrary to popular belief, a peanut is not a nut, but is part of the legume family? *** My 90-year-old dad was giving 
a talk at our local library about his World War II experiences. During the question-and-answer period, he was asked, “How did you know the war was over?” He replied, “When they stopped shooting at me.” *** Wandering inside a pet store, 
I stopped in front of a birdcage to 
admire a parakeet. We watched each other for a few minutes before it asked, “Can’t you talk?” *** My son and I were checking out 
a house he was interested in buying. When the owner came to the door, she looked at me and said, “Larry? 
I know you. We went to school 
together. I’m Elaine. Don’t you 
recognize me?” I drew a complete blank. She took out our old yearbook and showed me her graduation picture—still nothing. “Let’s look at your 
picture,” she said. She flipped the pages until she came to me. Under my photo I 
had written, “Elaine, I will never 
forget you.” *** Shortly after we moved to rural South Carolina, we found out Clemson Ag Extension was selling all sorts of berry and fruit trees at great rates. We needed quite a few things because the property we bought was cleared cow pasture and, besides a huge pecan tree, had no other trees on it. So I ordered blueberry and blackberry bushes and apple, peach and pear trees. When it came time to pick up the order, my friend called to ask if I could pick hers up, too. I told her we’d better take two trucks. When I got to the extension office I was shocked to find the pickup area empty except for some little bundles of twigs tied with string. I asked where my order was and the attendant led me to one of those bundles. They were bare root cuttings, which take up very little space. 
I could lift mine in one hand. I mentioned to the attendant that I felt silly bringing a truck to pick up the order. It was then that I noticed a man behind me. He ruefully stated, “Don’t feel bad; I brought a trailer.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn
  3. sandrewn

    Chapter 1

    "If we don't learn from History, we are doomed to repeat it"
  4. Just the facts: BEWILDERED Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster BEWILDERED Synonyms: 113 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus
  5. December 21st 2025 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Armed Forces Day (Philippines) Christian feast day: O Oriens Peter Canisius Thomas the Apostle December 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Forefathers' Day (Plymouth, Massachusetts) São Tomé Day (São Tomé and Príncipe) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Anne and Samantha Day Blue Christmas Service December Solstice Don’t Make Your Bed Day Dongzhi Humbug Day Look On The Bright Side Day National Armagnac Day National Coquito Day National Crossword Puzzle Day National Flashlight Day National French Fried Shrimp Day National Maine Day National Homeless Persons’ Remembrance Day Phileas Fogg Win a Wager Day Short Girl Appreciation Day Winter Solstice World Snowboard Day Yule World Basketball Day National Short Story Day International Energy Drink Day Gravy Day Ribbon Candy Day Chris Heria’s Birthday Frank Zappa’s Birthday Hubert Keller’s Birthday Jane Fonda’s Birthday Jessie James Combs’s Birthday Jinger Duggar’s Birthday Kiefer Sutherland’s Birthday Mario Selman’s Birthday Mickey Singh’s Birthday Mike Vitar’s Birthday Nick Davis Weinstein’s Birthday Samuel L. Jackson’s Birthday Kaitlyn Dever Fun Observances International Dalek Remembrance Day December 21 is International Dalek Remembrance Day, a day to remember the extraterrestrial cyborgs called Daleks in BBC's Doctor Who universe. Considered to be one of the biggest enemies of Doctor Who, the time travelling lord, the robotic Daleks made their debut on December 21, 1963 in a 7 part serial aptly called The Daleks. These salt and pepper shaker shaped creatures were created by another enemy of the Doctor - Davros, who genetically modified his own people, the Kaleds and removed all emotions from them. The Daleks were then left to operate just on hate and vengeance. Frightening Villains Known for repeatedly saying exterminate and for wanting to destroy every other race in the universe, the metal covered, aggressive Daleks are popularly considered by science fiction fans as one of the most frightening villains ever shown on television. A 2010 survey by the sci-fi magazine SFX found that the Doctor's arch-enemies were the most popular fantasy creatures on television and the big screen. Today, Daleks are easily recognized icons in popular culture especially in the United Kingdom. Being or sounding like a Dalek is sometimes used as a way to refer to someone who's behavior or voice sounds mechanical or robotic. Remembrance of Daleks Remembrance of Daleks is a 4 part serial in the 25th season of the British science fiction show. In the serial, Doctor Who returns to 1963 to retrive the Hand of Omega, a device that can fuel time travel by converting stars into supernovas. Another popularly celebrated Doctor Who inspired holiday is Impossible Astronaut Day. How to Celebrate? Spend the day doing a Doctor Who marathon. Host a Doctor Who party. Decorate the venue with Doctor Who inspired decorations and invite all the Whovians in your life. Did You Know… …that originally Daleks could not go up stairs? This lack of stair-climbing abilities was one way that Doctor Who characters could save themselves from these monstrous creatures. In a more recent avatar of the Daleks, the creators of the TV show have given them hovering capabilities, which they employ while uttering escalate in the same tone as they say eliminate. *** The last year I entered a marathon. The race started and immediately I was the last of the runners. It was embarrassing. The guy who was in front of me, second to last, was making fun of me. He said, "Hey buddy, how does it feel to be last?" I replied, "You really want to know?" Then I dropped out of the race. *** A man came in to give his application to the manager. But the manager asked, "Why is there a four-year gap in your application?" And the man responded, "Yale." The manager hired him and the guy said, "Thanks. I needed a yob." *** An elderly farmer had an old bull that lost its usual desire and no longer went near the cows. The farmer called the vet, who prescribed a pill to stimulate the bull’s interest. A few weeks later, the farmer ran into a friend, who asked, “How’s that bull?” “Great!” said the farmer. “The bull is back to his former frisky self.” “That’s fantastic. What miracle drug did the vet prescribe?” “I don’t know,” said the farmer. “But it tastes like licorice.” *** I took our 4-year-old granddaughter, Halle, to the corral on pregnancy testing day to watch as the veterinarian did ultrasounds on our cows. After a positive test, the vet shouted out, “Call it good!” I explained to Halle this meant there was a baby in the cow’s tummy. She replied, “I don’t want to call the baby Good; I want to call it Queen Elsa.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** (Thanks for the nightmares) *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn
  6. Just the facts: HAGGARD Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster HAGGARD Synonyms: 51 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus The following has nothing what so ever to do with our word of the day. I add it for its' Chuckle Value.
  7. December 20th 2025 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Abolition of Slavery Day, also known as Fête des Cafres (Réunion, French Guiana) Bo Aung Kyaw Day (Myanmar) Christian feast day: Dominic of Silos Blessed Michał Piaszczyński O Clavis Philogonius Ursicinus of Saint-Ursanne Katharina von Bora (Lutheran) December 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Earliest date for Winter solstice's eve (Northern Hemisphere), and its related observances: Yaldā (Iran) International Human Solidarity Day (International) Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day (Macau) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Cathode-Ray Tube Day Dot Your I’s Day Festival of Winter Walks Games Day Go Caroling Day Mudd Day National Wreaths Across America Day Sacagawea Day Ashleigh Wendrock’s Birthday Christmas Abbott’s Birthday De'Aaron Fox’s Birthday JoJo’s Birthday Jonah Hill’s Birthday Kylian Mbappé’s Birthday Lucia Zambetti’s Birthday Melanie Scrofano’s Birthday Mya Nicole Johnson’s Birthday Mystic Inscho’s Birthday NAO’s Birthday Peter Criss’s Birthday Pouya’s Birthday Sandra Lee’s Birthday Taimur Ali Khan’s Birthday Tori Bates’s Birthday Zack Carpinello’s Birthday Todd Phillips Fun Observances Sangria Day December 20 is Sangria Day. This unofficial holiday encourages people around the world to enjoy the day with a tall glass of the delicious alcoholic beverage. Typically made of red wine, sangria is a beverage that originated from Spain and Portugal. Usually, the wine is steeped with a variety of that is infused with a variety of chopped fruits and sugar for a few days before being consumed. How to Celebrate? If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, chances are that you are dreaming of a warm sunny day and a cool drink, and if you are in the Southern Hemisphere, you are probably looking for a cold drink to cool you down. No matter where you are on Earth, here are some ways you can celebrate Sangria Day: Make a huge batch of sangria and share with family and friends. Experiment with different kinds of wine and fruits to change the flavor profile of the Sangria you make. Don't drink alcohol? No problem. Make yourself a batch of non-alcoholic sangria with ginger ale or any other sparkling fruit juice of your choice. Did You Know… …that the term Sangria comes from the Spanish word for bleeding? This is because the beverage is typically made of red wine, which is deep red in color. *** I was picking up my letters at the post office when I heard a boy ask his mother if they had gotten any mail. She said, “No, just bills.” Then he asked, “Why do we always get his mail?” *** While on patrol, I arrested a burglar who’d injured himself running from a home. He told me he’d broken in and unhooked the phone before searching for valuables. But he’d panicked when he heard a woman’s voice. I entered the house and heard the same voice: “If you’d like to make a call, please hang up and try your call again.” *** We were an Air Force family, but our son could not grasp that 
fact. Anytime someone asked what his father did, he’d say, “He’s in the Army.” I told him umpteen times, “Stop telling people I’m in the Army!” It finally seemed to hit home because on the admittance form 
for kindergarten, under “father’s 
profession,” the teacher wrote, “He doesn’t know what his father does, but he’s not in the Army.” *** One day when my son David was 5 years old, he informed me that he no longer wanted to go to day care because the other kids were all babies. He said he was a big boy and could stay home alone while I worked. So I asked him, “Who will make your lunch? You can’t reach the stove.” He quickly replied, “I’ll make a salad.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Bang Zoom ...You're Going to the Moon! - YouTube *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn
  8. Just the facts: BRAZEN Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster BRAZEN Synonyms: 106 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus BRAZEN-FACED Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
  9. This cute spider looks like an abominable snowman and a great big (cute) woolly spider had a lovechild.
  10. December 19th 2025 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Lillian Trasher (Episcopal Church) O Radix Pope Anastasius I Pope Urban V December 19 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Saint Nicholas Day Goa Liberation Day (Goa, India) National Heroes and Heroines Day (Anguilla) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Look for an Evergreen Day National Emo Day National Hard Candy Day National Oatmeal Muffin Day National Underdog Day Alkaline’s Birthday Alyssa Milano’s Birthday Ashley Flowers’s Birthday Cicely Tyson’s Birthday Criss Angel’s Birthday Delta Shepard’s Birthday Elaine Joyce’s Birthday Hawkeye Huey’s Birthday Hey.lexie’s Birthday Ines de Ramon’s Birthday Jake Gyllenhaal’s Birthday Janet Guzman’s Birthday Jasmine Sorge’s Birthday Jenelle Evans’s Birthday Nico Hiraga’s Birthday Souline McBroom’s Birthday Ronan Farrow Fun Observances (2) Underdog Day Underdog Day is celebrated every year on the third Friday of December. This unofficial holiday owes its name to the term “underdog” popularly used in sports and competitions and refers to someone who is popularly expected to lose. All of us know of someone who works very hard but never gets recognized for their hard work. In addition, they are usually expected to fail in their efforts. Maybe, you have been in a situation like that? Celebrate all such underdogs and unsung heroes on Underdog Day. How to Celebrate? Remember that it is sometimes ok to be an underdog. It may be frustrating sometimes, but when underdogs win, they tend to upset the expected order of things. If you know of an underdog, tell them to persevere on. If you feel you are an underdog, work harder and shatter everyone’s expectations. Watch the American animated series, Underdog. The series, which aired on NBC in the 1960s, detailed the adventures of Underdog, a superhero who spoke in rhyming verse and wore a caped costume. Did You Know… …that the opposite of an underdog is a top dog and in if an underdog wins in a competition, the outcome of the event is known as an upset. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ugly Sweater Day The third Friday of December is Ugly Sweater Day. On this day, get in the holiday spirit and flaunt those ugly holiday sweaters (thanks, Grandma!) you have been too embarrassed to wear in public. In many countries, the holiday is associated with fundraising events for children’s charity. A similar holiday, Christmas Jumper Day, is celebrated every year as part of a fun raising event by Save the Children, a not for profit organization. In 2017, it is on December 15 as well. How to Celebrate? Take that ugly sweater out and wear it in public, chances are, you won’t be the only one wearing the Rudolph sweater grandma made for you ten years ago. Don’t have an ugly sweater? Make one of your own. Bedazzle an old or thrifted sweater, add embroidered holiday motifs and some sequins, and voila, you are ready for Ugly Sweater Day. Host an ugly sweater party. Have your guests contribute to charity and hold an ugly sweater competition. The person flaunting the ugliest sweater goes home with the top prize. Did You Know... ...that the word cardigan, which is a type of sweater that is open from the front, comes from James Thomas Brudenell, the 7th Earl of Cardigan? The English general was thought to have worn such as sweater while leading a cavalry charge at Balaclava in 1854. *** The DMV was as crowded and noisy as ever. When I finally got to the 
window, I asked the clerk, “Does the never-ending line of loud people ever drive you crazy?” She shook her head. “We call it job security.” *** There is No Such Thing as a Dumb Question, Except for These: • I work in IT. A customer asked me if a string of numbers I'd read off was upper- or lowercase. • Someone once asked, “Is this the museum?” I work at a pool. • A few of the things customers have asked for at our art-supply store include disco balls, trees, and crucifixion wood. • I'm a butcher. A woman asked if she could sleep in our freezer to test out a heavy-duty sleeping bag before a trip to the Himalayas. *** Conversation With A Customer-Service Representative: Me: I have a Roundup Multi Purpose Sprayer that is defective. Customer Rep: Ma’am, we’ll need the exact name of the item. Do you have the box? Me: No, but it’s the Roundup Multi Purpose Sprayer. Customer Rep: Ma’am, we’ll need the box so we can have the exact name of the product. Me: Hold on. I’ll run out to my garage and get the box. [Long pause ... ] 
OK ... [huff ... puff] I have it. It says ... Roundup Multi Purpose Sprayer. Customer Rep: Thank you for that information, ma’am. *** Several years ago, our grandson Andrew slept at our house overnight. For breakfast I made pancakes, and I gave him one that was browner than the others. He told me he didn’t want that one because it was too ripe. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** (Be careful of what you wish for) *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn
  11. Just the facts: LUTEOUS Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster Adjectives for LUTEOUS - Merriam-Webster
  12. December 18th 2025 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Flannán Gatianus of Tours O Adonai Sebastian (Eastern Orthodox Church) Winibald December 18 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) International Migrants Day National Day (Qatar) Republic Day (Niger) UN Arabic Language Day (United Nations) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Answer The Telephone Like Buddy The Elf Day Bake Cookies Day Flake Appreciation Day Guru Ghasidas Jayanti National Crime Junkie Day National Regifting Day National Roast Suckling Pig Day Wear a Plunger on Your Head Day National Twin Day Ashley Benson’s Birthday Ayaka Iida’s Birthday Brad Pitt’s Birthday Bridgit Mendler’s Birthday Chris FamilyFunPack’s Birthday Christina Aguilera’s Birthday DMX’s Birthday Franz Ferdinand’s Birthday Joseph Stalin’s Birthday Katie Holmes’s Birthday Keith Richards’s Birthday Lyrica Anderson’s Birthday Maria Brink’s Birthday Paul Klee’s Birthday Rachel in Wonderland’s Birthday Ray Liotta’s Birthday Ronald Acuna Jr.’s Birthday Steven Spielberg’s Birthday Stone Cold Steve Austin’s Birthday YBN Nahmir’s Birthday ZaZa Bean’s Birthday Billie Eilish *** A few of us were discussing the perils of drinking and driving when my five-year-old granddaughter threw in her two cents. “I can see why it would be dangerous to drink and drive,” she said. “The straw could go up your nose.” *** I’m a nurse in a hospital’s children’s ward. One night, I was at the nurses’ station when I heard a little boy in his room talking. He kept the patter up for some time. Finally, I got on the intercom and said softly but firmly, “All right, Johnny, it’s time to go to sleep now.” There was quiet in the room, and then he said, “OK, God, I will.” I didn’t hear a peep from him until morning. *** My 35-year-old son and I had just finished our meal when I realized I’d left my wallet in my truck. As I headed out the door, I told the waitress what had happened. “But don’t worry,” I said with a grin. “I’m leaving my son for collateral.” She looked at him. He winked at her. She turned back to me. “What else you got?” *** When someone asks me if I quit my diet... not only did I fall off the diet wagon, I dragged it into the woods, set it on fire, and used the insurance money to buy Twinkies. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn
  13. Just the facts: FLAVESCENT Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
  14. December 17th 2025 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Daniel the Prophet Josep Manyanet i Vives Lazarus of Bethany (local commemoration in Cuba) O Sapientia Olympias the Deaconess Wivina Sturm December 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Accession Day (Bahrain) International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers Kurdish Flag Day (Global Kurdish population) National Day (Bhutan) Pan American Aviation Day (United States) Wright Brothers Day, a United States federal observance by Presidential proclamation Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) National Device Appreciation Day National Maple Syrup Day National Maple Syrup Day Canada Ashley Jordyn’s Birthday Duff Goldman’s Birthday Ivar Ivask’s Birthday Jessi’s Birthday John Abraham’s Birthday Manny Pacquiao’s Birthday Manu Ríos’s Birthday Michael Cashman’s Birthday Milla Jovovich’s Birthday Nat Wolff’s Birthday Pope Francis’s Birthday Ramriddlz’s Birthday Sarah Paulson Eugene Levy ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wed Dec 17th, 2025 - Tue Dec 23rd, 2025 Saturnalia *** Q: What's A Snowman's Favorite Breakfast? A: Frosted Flakes! *** A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other. *** Q: Why did the Christmas tree go to the barber? A: It needed to be trimmed. *** On New Year’s Eve, I’ll join my friends to toast the days ahead. We’ll all stay up until it’s late, then eat a tasty spread. At midnight, though, I might just wish that I were home instead, sleeping very peacefully in my warm, cozy bed. *** Just before Easter I remarked to my husband that, with the children grown and away from home, this was the first year that we hadn't dyed eggs and had an Easter-egg hunt. "That's all right, honey," he said. "We can just hide each other's vitamin pills." *** My granddaughter was discussing the expected arrival of a new brother for her 4-year-old son, Matthew. She told Matthew that you can’t predict the exact date of birth. “You were expected on Aug. 19,” she said, “but arrived on Aug. 11.” Matthew thought for a moment and then said, “Oh! I’m so lucky I was born on my birthday!” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn
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